WESLEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

December 1, 2011

WESLEY WORD
Lighting of the Tree Sunday Night, December 4th, 6:00PM
Were moving all the pieces into place as we prepare for Christmas and the season of Advent! Please join us on the evening of the first Sunday in December for our first annual Lighting of the Tree. This Christmas, rather than performing a cantata in place of a Sunday morning sermon, the choir of Wesley United Methodist Church will be performing several selections, featuring solos, carols, and readings from Scripture about the birth of Jesus to welcome in the Christmas season and begin the celebration of Gods most perfect gift! Only a Grinch would want to miss this event!

JESUS INVITES US INTO HIS PRESENCE

As we enter into the season of Advent, restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we might be saved. When hope is lost, restore us, O God. When people are hurting, restore us, O God. When nations are fighting, restore us, O God. When children are hungry, restore us, O God. Restore us O God of life. Bring us closer to hope, the hope that lights the way on the journey to Bethlehem. During this season of waiting, may we be open to signs of your restoring love. Restore us, O God. May Your great and glorious light shine through us, that we might draw others to Jesus. Amen.

During WFN on December 14, the children will go caroling. 6:30 pm. The whole church, adults, youth and children are invited to go caroling on December 21st at 7:30 pm. Come and join in the Spirit of Christmas .

Christmas Eve 6:00 pm Candlelight Communion - Celebrate Christmas Eve as the choir sings and the children parade in with the pieces of the Nativity set. 11:00 pm Candlelight Communion - This service will blend contemporary music with ancient liturgy as we prepare our hearts to celebrate the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. Christmas Morning Worship

What at joy it is to receive your gift of Jesus Christ

On Christmas morning, we will have a single worship service at 10:00 am. This will be a casual service. Kids are invited to bring one present with them for a blessing of the toys. Sunday School will not meet that morning.

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Saturday, December 3 UMW Christmas Social

Sunday, December 4

Derick Kardos Pat Salas Josalyn Mutchler Coleen Parkman Ben Wilks Colby Natal Ben Rowe Holly Malone Andrew Brinkman Roseann Zammiello Huilon McClellan Carter Camp Matthew Stein

1st 5th 10th 13th 15th 17th 23rd 24th 26th 26th 29th 31st 31st

Lighting of the Tree

Friday, December 9 Kids Night Out

Saturday, December 3
UMW members and church women are invited: Annual Christmas Social Event (no regular meeting in December) SaturdayDecember 3, 2011 10:00 a.m. at Betty Baileys home 2409 Hogans Hill, McKinney 972-9480664 Bring brunch foods Bring paper goods for Christmas project (Samaritan Inn) Bring gift for your 2011 Secret Sister who will be revealed at party Contact UMW President Pat Chadwick if you have questions (469-734-2395; or e-mail dillwick@gcecisp.com).

Sunday, December 11 Sunday Lunch Bunch

Wednesday, December 14 Childrens ministry goes caroling

Thursday, December 15 Primetimers December Lunch/offsite

Saturday, December 17 Youth Bakefest

Sunday, December 18 Youth Bake Sale

Wednesday, December 21 Youth Caroling open to Church

Prime Timers December Luncheon Date: December 15, 2011 Time: 11:30 AM Place: Bill Smith Cafe 1510 W. University Dr McKinney, TX 75069 The room in the back of the cafe has been reserved for the Prime Timers luncheon. Cash or a check, they don't take credit cards. RSVP to Yvonne Campbell 214-585-0083 or yvocam@sbcglobal.net or June Halpin 214-632-0089

Saturday, December 24 Christmas Eve Service

Sunday, December 25 10 am one combined Worship Service

Sunday Lunch Bunch, December 11, immediately following the 11:15 Service. For this Sunday only, the two services will be blended and identical, so you will have the same worship experience for whichever service you plan to attend. There will be a sign up sheet in the Narthex this Sunday to sign up for attending the lunch. The Fellowship Team would like to decorate the tables with Nativity scenes. Do you have a Nativity you could share for the day?

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Dear Members of Wesley UMC, Merry Christmas to you all from the Staff Parish Relations Committee. I hope this season finds you happy, healthy and blessed. Our staff has grown and worked hard for Gods church during 2011. Our congregation implemented the two services, including the addition of a contemporary service, and what a blessing! God has been working at Wesley this year. It is a tradition at Wesley to honor our paid staff at this time of year with a monetary Christmas love offering. If you would like to contribute, please drop a check or cash in the offering plate between December 4th and December 18th or bring your offering to the church office before the 20th. Please note on the reference line of your check Staff Christmas or place cash in an envelope that is labeled Staff Christmas. Our hard working paid staff members consists of: John Wilkes, Pastor Kevin Davis, Contemporary Worship Leader David Morris, Youth Director/Choir Director Sandy Ragland, Administrative Assistant Jason Stillwell, Accompanist Laurie Wilkes, Children's Director Nursery Staff I hope you will consider helping SPRC honor these hard working servants this season. May your Christmas season be rich with the Love of Christ that came to us so many years ago. Staff Parish Relations Committee

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Dear Wesleyans,
Years ago, I spent the summer as youth director at a small town church out in West Texas. A few weeks into my time there, I met a 15 year old named George through the High School summer program. George was from the wrong family, in the wrong side of town, with no mother around, a father of no reputation, and a brother awaiting trial for murder. George himself was no stranger to the police and to school officials. The whole town could see the path he was on. Yet the Holy Spirit kept telling me that there was something to this young man which was being overlooked. I spent the next few weeks convincing George to come to youth group. The first time he came to church, he walked right in the door of the sanctuary for Sunday worship. Some folks stared. There were lots of whispers and a little pointing. When he sat in the pew with the other High School youth, they were clearly uncomfortable. After church, I fielded plenty of phone calls from concerned church members. Wouldnt George be a bad influence on the other kids? What if he makes trouble? What if he steals something? What will the Baptists say about us with him here? George had a sense of what folks felt about him, but he seemed drawn to the church anyway. He came to UMYF, Sunday School, Sunday morning worship, Sunday night worship... if the doors were open, George was there. Someone gave him a Bible, and he read the four gospels in two weeks. By mid-July, he had walked the isle, professed faith in Jesus and asked to be baptized. By August, he had started bringing six other teens with him- all of whom were from the wrong side of the tracks and with reputations of their own to overcome. George the troubled youth had, in a matter of months, become George the apostle to troubled youth. The transformation was nothing short of a miracle- something God alone can accomplish. Beloved, there are Georges all around us: lost souls whom the Spirit is quietly planting seeds. In your family, your workplace, your school, your neighborhoodsomewhere there is a George in your life- a story of redemption just waiting to find a place to happen; a child of grace waiting to find a church family that will teach them about the love of God; a saint locked in the life of a sinner, yearning to be set free if only someone would introduce them to the Savior. As we near Christmas, let us remember that Jesus came for the Georges of the world. Let us each ask the Holy Spirit to open our eyes to see, our hearts to love, and our mouths to invite the Georges in our lives to come and worship Christ with us! Grace and peace,

George the troubled youth had, in a matter of months, become George the apostle to troubled youth. The transformation was nothing short of a miracle- something God alone can accomplish

John

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Pastor Johns New Years Reading Challenge

A few month ago, I reviewed a book called Radical written by a pastor named David Platt. Starting in January, I will be asking our staff and our Church Council to read this inspiring and challenging book so that we can wrestle with Rev. Platts fresh presentation of what it means to follow Jesus. It seems to me, though, if we are to really become galvanized as a body of faith, it isnt enough for just our core leadership to catch a renewed vision. We need as many members and regular visitors as possible to share with us a holy calling from God to give the mission of Jesus Christ our all. So Im asking each of you to read the book with us. Radical is available in most book stores, online, and electronically for both Nook and Kindle owners. It is also in most public libraries and will soon be in our own library here at the church. It is also available as an audio book for those who dont enjoy reading. Starting in early January, I will host a few casual gatherings where you will be invited to discuss this book in a small group setting over coffee. I will also be preaching a sermon series titled Radical for Jesus on the last two Sundays in January and the first two Sundays in February.

Pastor Johns Book Shelf

Hey Wesley Youth! Here are a few dates that you want to make sure to mark onto your calendar! 12/9- Kids Night Out 6-10 pm (fundraising for the Youth Mission Trip) One child-$15, Two children $20, Three or more children $25. 20 spots are open! 12/17- Bakefest 12/18- Bake Sale 12/21-Caroling Night open to Church Make sure to open up nights for these events as they are important fundraisers that will be used for the Youth Mission Fund! More details on these events will be presented in Sunday School as well as in Fusion. Oh, and Wesley Youth, Don't forget to ask yourself: What about Bob?

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OUTREACH

Reaching Out 2011-2012 December 2011 Edition

Thank you!!!
To everyone who served at or donated items to Garage Giveaway. Over 3,000 guests received $900,000 worth of household goods and services like 50 eye exams; 44 pairs of glasses given out or ordered (1 eye disease detected and will be scheduled for eye surgery), 150 haircuts, 50 sets of nails painted, 30 back massages, 2,434 hot dogs cooked and served up. There were 1,003 volunteers from a dozen churches showing the hands and feet of Jesus Christ. Check out the local coverage from Channel 8 on YouTube. All media coverage can be seen, heard or read on the 3e McKinney website www.3emckinney.com .

Its not too late!!!

Slaughter Elementary School needs 3-4 volunteers to help judge 5th grade Science Fair.

5th Grade Science Fair December 7th Needs Judges anytime between 8am to 2:30 pm
Classroom Help make copies set up projects - science, etc design bulletin boards put up bulletin boards sort writing paper stock writing paper create board games community members to speak in classroom November - police officer, etc February - dentist mentoring making die cuts read to/with a child/group tutoring sort file hang artwork in hallway sharpen pencils create flashcards clean toys assist with math facts help with science day K x x x x x x x x x x x x x x 1 x x x 3
Please contact Terrilee Schober if you would like to serve. 3eliaison@wumcmckinney.org

Helping in the Classroom and on Campus

X
Here is a list of opportunities where you can use your time and talents to serve Slaughter. Please contact Terrilee Schober so you can get started, as soon as possible. 3eliaison@wumcmckinney.org

Other Places to Serve

x x x x x x x x x x X X X
Opening car doors and greeting children and parents in the carpool line. Monday thru Friday 7:15 am to 7:45 am Picking-up Food4Kid boxes from Finch and delivering to Slaughter. Every other Thursday 9:00 am to 9:30 am Distributing Food4Kid bags to childrens backpacks. Fridays 9:00 am to 10:00 am (sometimes Thursdays) Being a REACH Mentor; Date and time arranged with Community In Schools Coordinator

X X X

There are two mentors from Wesley making ference in the lives of two children!!!! You too!!!

a difcan,

(Cont pg 7)

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(Cont from page 6)

Have your Small Group, Sunday School/Bible Study Class, Ministry Team adopt a grade level. Adoption activity ideas: Pray for the teachers .. Pray for the students.. Write the teacher a note of encouragement We are still looking to update the Teacher Lounge over Christmas Break. For any and all of these opportunities, please contact Terrilee Schober 3eliaison@wumcmckinney.org

3e Christmas Care Angel Tree

update
Wesley will again serve the families of Slaughter by providing Christmas gifts for the children who attend Slaughter and their siblings. Here are key dates and additional information. 11/17 (Thursday) 3e Christmas Care Angel Tree boards are up and available for everyone to pick a child or children from Slaughter, Wesleys adopted school

As of 11/27 only 5 angels left If you didnt get an angel,

please contact Terrilee ASAP.

Remember 12/7 (Wednesday) All gifts dropped off at Wesley by 6:00 pm.

Hands and Feet can Serve Here:

Inventory Gifts: 12/3 - 10:00 to noon 12/8 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm 12/9 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Gift Pick-up: Sunday, 12/11 11:30 am to 1:30 pm 12/12, 13, & 14 - 7:00 am to 9:00 am 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm 12/15, & 16 specific dates and times will be scheduled, as needed. To sign-up for a date and time to be the hands, feet and face of Christ, e-mail Terrilee Schober at 3eliaison@wumcmckinney.

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We Confess by Barry Smith

As the year draws to an end and Christians the world over begin to sense that special joy associated only with Christmas I want to share some thoughts on how this glorious season will touch the lives of different people, in circumstance very unlike our own, and how it should also remind us of the extent to which our Faith is under threat.. My childhood memories of Christmas are, to this day, among my happiest; Decorating the tree, singing carols, getting to sleep with great difficulty on Christmas eve and then awakening on Christmas morning to find the empty pillow case which had been fastened to the corner of my headboard the previous evening, now bursting with beautifully wrapped gifts. Then the delight of opening them, together with my brother, on the lounge carpet as our parents looked on with a sense of love and thankfulness. There were the ritualistic Christmas morning family visits to special acquaintances, with the eager anticipation of mince pies and hot beverages, and then on to the traditional turkey, and ham and hot Christmas pudding and custard midafternoon meal at the home of my grandparents where the whole extended family would be gathered. Now Im a grandfather and all that remains of those cherished times are fragmented memories, excitement has given way to relative aloneness, but the joy of the occasion remains, enhanced even, through greater understanding as to what it really represents. This week I sent a Christmas card and calendar to Masechaba, a child living in Lesotho, Southern Africa, whom I adopted a few years ago through World Vision. As I was writing a simple goodwill message to her I was trying to imagine how she would experience Christmas. World Vision has promised to provide a party of sorts for the children of her small community but there will almost certainly be no presents, no table in her humble home with choice things to eat on Christmas day, but just as certainly there will be a service in the little church with its hard clay floor, glassless windows and wooden benches for pews.. Clothes will be washed, probably in a nearby stream, in anticipation of the service so the whole family can look their best.

I got to thinking about the emotions we experience at Christmas and whether there is perhaps an underlining component that lends a uniqueness to what we feel each year at this time? Having recently experienced another Halloween, albeit this year, half by design, from the relative seclusion of a campsite at Lake Ray Roberts, I tried to compare the unmistakable excitement and commitment of children, and most parents, to this bizarre festival, with Christmas. Clearly there is excitement and happiness and celebration in abundance, as there is at Christmas, but what seemed to be missing is that special something experienced by most, whether consciously or unconsciously, which makes Christmas unique. Its more than excitement or happiness; perhaps, as I alluded to earlier, its best described as joy. For some this is a time of great gratitude when attention is focused on the incarnation of our Lord and what this has come to mean for fallen humanity. Even for those entirely focused on the festivities and revelry so successfully elevated by the commercial world, there still remains a sense, a vague undefined realization that Christmas is special. As we grow older in the faith circumstances may deprive us of the excitement and even happiness of bygone years but our joy increases as we develop a deeper understanding of the true, the unique significance of Christmas. It is on this note that we need to be reminded of a more sobering reality; It is precisely the goodness and Godliness in Christmas that makes it a target for the forces of evil rampant in the world. All Christians were asked, during the month of November, to focus on and pray for persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ around the world, vast numbers of whom have, are, and will continue to endure atrocities so extreme as to make even the contemplation of such unacceptable to the delicate sensibilities of western complacency. To be a Christian, to be found to be celebrating the birth of Christ in many predominantly Middle-eastern, Asian and North African countries could have consequences of untold misery from which even death would be a welcome release.

Back home, incase it has gone unnoticed by some, the very foundations of freedom and liberty on which this Country was founded and for which hundreds of thousands have sacrificed their lives, is the focus of an insidious onslaught by the forces of evil. Public prayer, Christian symbols, public Christian gatherings, open testimony, commercial affiliation, Christian standards as criteria for membership, the full and free proclamation of Gods Word, even from the pulpit, and, of course, Christmas are all under assault from the forces of evil. Why do I speak of forces of evil and not just atheists? It is simply because it is what it is. We have always had atheists among us but now the wolves have become more creative and ambitious in both their objectives and how to reach them. Leaders and foot soldiers in the enemys ranks have infiltrated all levels of the education system, the judicial system, all levels of both state and federal government, yes and even the churches, while weve been asleep at the switch. As Christians if we continue to ignore the reality of this assault against our Faith we do so at our own peril. And let us not be caught up in the gross deception that we, as Christians, need to tolerate those arrayed against us as they merely have different opinions from our own; this is perhaps the most dangerous of lies. Paul, prior to his conversion on the road to Damascus, made it his lifes work to hunt down followers of The Way (Christians), and drag them off to prison, torture and often death. Although he may have been sincere in what he was doing do you think for one moment, as Paul the great apostle, he would look back on such actions and regard them as tolerable by virtue of the fact that he believed it was the right thing to do at the time, that it was after all his opinion and therefore excusable? When Pontius Pilot, during his interrogation of Jesus, posed that immortal question, to himself and to his audience: What is truth, he was about to set, for all time, the bench mark against which the consequences of negating the truth would be measured. (cont pg 9)

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(Cont from page 8) We Confess If he had not chosen to blur the distinction between truth and deception might it not have resulted in the acquittal of Jesus? Pilot at that moment was speaking for fallen humanity; Pilot continues to speak today for all those who call evil good and good evil. So this year as the count down to Christmas continues let us at least take a stand against those influences determined to undermine its sacred meaning and foster, in any way we can, the truth of this glorious season. Know where the companies you shop at stand regarding Christmas, affirm Christmas in your greetings and in your example and pray for those for whom Christmas is a time of heightened danger. And as we celebrate Christmas in the company friends and family let us remember those incarcerated, and suffering dreadfully, in some dank, dirty cell, awaiting a fate unknown, because of their faith. May the Spirit of Christmas sustain them, and us, this year.

TRUE CONFESSIONS AND CORRECTIONS

When I was a kid my parents had an electric typewriter. I spent hours playing with it. I sat mesmerized by the hum of the motor and the clack of the keys. I authored short stories and penned verses of poetry. I suppose that's where I developed a love for writing. Along the way I also developed an unhealthy obsession with corrections. It's weird, I know. I used to appreciate the challenge of lining the tape up just right, so the key would strike at just the right spot to cover the error. I enjoyed smoothing the rough edges of the film down with my thumb after I pulled the paper off the roller. I excelled at the puzzle of finding a satisfying piece of white, just the right size for a word or a letter, after most of the sheet had been used up. This proved to be a frequent predicament...you will imagine. I once created a work of art on blue card stock by perfectly "correcting" and typing over every word so that the words appeared flawlessly surrounded by clouds of white on the sky hued paper. It did not stop with the "cool" typewriter gadget. I'll admit. I was also accomplished at using the correction pencil with its stiff green bristles to sweep way what wasn't needed. My fifth grade math teacher asked me not to use the yellow erasers that you put on the end of your pencil because they presented a distraction for me. (Sad, but true.) I kept a bottle of whiteout in my bag at all times in junior high. No, I did-

By Laurie Wilks Director of Children Ministries

place of good intentions and loving, truthful language. Sometimes, it was done from a place of thoughtless reaction. Either way, the damage looms clear and pervasive. The longer I live within the reality of a God who sees intimately into the disaster I have made with my cover-ups and erasure attempts and loves me completely; the more I am intoxicated by the strange mix of awe, love, freedom and I catch. I worship the God whose grace came to heal in the light the things I hide in the dark. And the more I wonder... If Christ came for to heal the broken and provide a way for the lost, why is His Church so full of people who revel in the appearance of perfection? If grace is more descriptive of love than prescriptive of boundaries, what does holiness look like? If disciples are grown and grace is formative shouldn't disciples be patient and conscious of the soil and environment they present?

n't like the smell. I was compelled with the idea of correcting my words, my grammar, my thoughts... myself. I honed the ability to hide mistakes and faults; all that did not measure up was coated and retooled. Even if someone could tell something wasn't originally up to snuff, at least so no one could really know what was there in the first place. Publicly, I revealed some spiritual, relational and physical errors and typos to prove that I could correct them, or to make other more grievous ones easier to hide. Worse yet, I would cover the loneliness and isolation of this "correctional" existence by helping others find the corrections for their faults. Sure, sometimes this was done from a

Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, I will confess my transgressions to the LORD. And you forgave the guilt of my sin. Psalm 34:5

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May you all have a blessed Christmas & A Prosperous New Year

WESLEY UNITED METHODIST

WU M C ST AFF
2705 Virginia Parkway McKinney, TX 75071 972-542-2228 wumc@wumcmckinney.org John Wilks, Pastor past or johnwi lks@ gmai l.com Jayne Wolfe, D eacon jwolfe570@ gmai l.com D avid M orris, T raditional Worship Leader musi c@ wumcmcki nney.or g K evin D avis, Contemporary Worship Leader kevi nt hedavi s@ gmai l .com Jason Stillwell, Pianist D avid & Julie M orris, Youth D irectors yout hmi n@ wumcmcki nney .or g Laurie Wilks, Childrens D irector ki dst i me@ wumcmcki nney .or g Barry H ines, T reasurer t r easur y@ wumcmcki nney .or g H olly M alone, F inancial Secretary homalone@ msn.com Joel Cook, M edia Coordinator wesley soundsli des@ gmai l.com Sandy R agland, Administrative Assistant wumc@ wumcmcki nney.or g K aren Stein, Preschool D irector Wcp_kar en@ wumcmcki nney.or g

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